June 30, 2011

Wow. If this is DC’s strategy (that hypothetical lost fan base is older, has credit cards and disposable income, and an internet connection that can bring the DC Comics section of a notional comics store right to their desks. That, in fact, digital comics services will do the work of those eight thousand stores that don’t exist anymore) I have a hunch it will totally flop.

Why? Because comic books should be targeting young readers. Ages seven to sixteen. If you make that demographic care about the medium and care about your funny books, then they could become life long readers. Everyone who left comics in the 90’s are gone. Some might come back, but I wouldn’t count on it. The next generation is where it’s at!

I DO like the fact that DC is stirring things up, but it DOES bother me that much of the “reboot” element of it seems to be more about the Shuster lawsuit regarding the Superman copyright.

June 17, 2011

While waiting for the Ultraist Computer to do calculations I drew this marker sketch in the moleskine.

I had just finished reading the newest Lethargic Lad which reminded me how much the new FF bothered me. Just this week I got thesecomics via ebay which I thought was a much better concept. I bought this comic when it came out just because it had The New Fantastic Four in uniform, but I didn’t like that Ghost Rider was replaced with Iron Man, and I still didn’t like that it was Grey Hulk instead of Green Hulk. I wondered what the proper team would look like in uniform, and so I decided to do this sketch to find out. In a recent interview I was asked “What comic characters other than your own would you like to work with?” After this sketch, I think I’d have to add “The New Fantastic Four” to that list.

June 8, 2011

CerebusTV this Friday at 10pm ET / 7pm PT: A quick look at Xeric award winning cartoonist Gary Scott Beatty’s innovative 64-page INDIE COMICS MAGAZINE — where each contributor buys space and then shares equally in all revenues from sales through Diamond Comic Distributors. A great lead-in to “The Case of the Anunnaki Artifact”, Mike Kitchen’s contribution to INDIE COMICS MAGAZINE No. 2 with voice-over by the Kitchen Family Players voicing their own characters — Mike Kitchen as SPY GUY, Erika Kitchen as Erica Korczak, Anika Kitchen as Katie Whips, Raina Kitchen as Two Gun Tiny, Erikson Kitchen as Super Shooter and special guest Dave Sim as both Dr. Golem and the Aliens. Taped last December 20. CEREBUS TV editor Dave Fisher– who will be getting a lump of coal in his stocking this Christmas — sincerely apologies for switching the names of Anika and Raina’s characters in the credits.

To watch this episode, click on over to CerebusTV.com and chose your streaming video to view via your internet browser.

The show begins this Friday at 10:00 pm and will be streaming live on a cycle until next Friday at 10:00 pm.

Don’t miss it!

ALSO: CEREBUS TV SPECIAL!
While the episode is airing, you can get INDIE COMICS MAGAZINE #2 signed by all the contributing Kitchen Family Members for the cover price of $6.49 (plus shipping). I’ll take it one step further and number them as the CerebusTV Edition. They’re now available for purchase in the Ultraist Studios Store.